Nancy wanted to make good use of her spare time. So she decided to work for the underdog For the past several years, she has been putting her experience and energy to help a disadvantage (条件差的 ) high  school student.

      Nancy knew that her knowledge would be best shared in a one-to-one situation. She found h perfect match in Operation Jump Start (OJS).

      OJS was founded in 1994 in Long Beach, California, with the goal of helping students reach for higher education. It pairs students with experienced volunteers (志愿者) , and provides them with workshops on writing, leadership development, and guided tours of various colleges.

Since its start, OJS has helped 80 students graduate from high school, with 95 percent moving on to higher education.

       Nancy and the girl, Yanira, spent most of their time on school work. Together the two often went holiday show together! It's been great to get to museums, zoos, the movies, and concerts; they even sang in the school holiday show together!

 "I know I'm not like anyone else in Yanira's life," Nancy says,” know her and to watch her change, grow, and learn. "

     Much to Nancy's excitement, Yanira plans to attend John Jay College in New York City, where Nancy's father taught for his whole life. "These days I share her dream, and if she gets accepted I hope to travel to New York with her and show her around," Nancy says.